2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Older Adults

Monday, November 27th, 2017 by Tammy Worth

If you haven’t started your holiday shopping list yet, chances are, you will soon. You may have specific requests from your adult children or grandchildren, but what about the older adults on your list?

If you’re at a loss for ideas– or you’re looking for fun and interesting presents for your friends or spouse – look no further. We’ve compiled a list of gift ideas at different price points for all kinds of interests and hobbies.

Under $20

Card Caddy

If you’re a card player who wouldn’t dream of using rubber bands to hold your decks, the Card Caddy is for you. This plastic gadget holds a full deck of cards and opens to convert into a holder for the deck and discard pile. The hole in the top allows you not only to see what kind of cards are inside, but also allows for easy opening. The company also offers holders for accessories and double decks. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer for that rummy lover in your life.

Spice blends

Do you have an older loved one who enjoys cooking new an interesting foods but isn’t an expert on exotic cuisine? The spice blends from the Zen of Slow Cooking may be just what you’re looking for. These slow cooker spice blends are inexpensive but crucial ingredients for tasty dishes like coq au vin, Moroccan tagine and Sichuan chicken. Plus, Zen provides a shopping list, recipe card and all of the spices needed to whip together a quick, one-pot meal.

The Book of Myself

This book is perfect for someone who wants to record a lifetime of memories in one place. Billed as a “do-it-yourself autobiography,” the “Book of Myself” is a journal with 201 questions about your education, family, friends and work to prompt your memories of your younger, middle and later years. This book will help your loved one remember and write about pivotal moments and share them with the important people in their life.

$25 to $50

The perfect wine glass

For those loved ones who enjoy a good glass of wine, but may be on the clumsier side, the TaZa wine glass may be the ideal gift. These unbreakable glasses made from Tritan material look and act just like a glass cup but won’t break if dropped or knocked them from a table. The 16-ounce glasses are 100 percent BPA-free and dishwasher safe.

Lap blanket

You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy the luxurious knee blankets from Tartan Blanket Co. Made from recycled wool, lambs’ wool or cashmere, these cozy blankets come in enough colors of plaid to suit your loved one’s style and décor. The company also makes scarves, picnic blankets and gift sets – all in tartan, of course.

Neck wrap

With winter soon upon us, a versatile neck wrap will serve your loved one well whether they’re attending an outdoor sporting event or stepping out for a night on the town. The Wayfarer Travel Wrap, measuring 6 feet long by nearly 3 feet wide, can be used as a travel blanket, a wrap a pashmina or a scarf. And for super-cold nights, the wrap holds a pocket for a hand warmer to keep your neck even toastier. The wrap’s soft fabric is machine washable and sustainable (it’s made from beech trees).

$50 and over

Customized Map Art

Is there a city, state or other spot that holds a special spot in your loved one’s heart? If so, a customized map using can help them keep it close. Using a service called Grafomap, a click of the mouse allows you to go online and make a custom map poster of a city he or she holds dear – maybe where they were born, took a cherished trip overseas or met their spouse. You can take any city’s map, zoom in or out and use editing filters to create a custom print.

Video conversion tool

If your loved one was capturing videos of family and friends long before smart phones hit the scene, they probably have some old VHS or Beta tapes hiding in a drawer somewhere. This holiday season, they can revive those memories with video conversion from VIDBOX. This simple tool connects a VCR or video camera to a computer and converts the old videos into a digital format to hold onto or share with family and friends.

Smart clothing

A new trend in exercise clothing is tracking biometrics. But “smart” clothes aren’t only for fitness buffs. The Komodo AIO Smartsleeve can be worn by anyone wanting to track their steps, calories consumed, heart rate during and outside of physical activity, sleep schedule and daily movement. The sleeve is available in a variety of colors and can also be used as a 24/7 EKG monitor.

A compact at-home workout

The seated elliptical trainer may be the perfect gift for your older loved one if they’re trying to hit a certain number of steps per day or just need a little additional activity in their routine. The Cubii Jr., is a compact elliptical machine that can be used while watching TV or even while working. It tracks calories burned and strides taken plus time, distance and speed. The eight resistance levels make it a great choice for any fitness level.

Adaptive headphones

For your loved one who enjoys listening to music, audiobooks, podcasts or the radio, the EVEN H2 Wireless Headphones are the ultimate gift. These cordless headphones are equipped with technology known as EarPrint that adapts to the user. The headphones are ideal for anyone who has imperfect hearing or just wants a pair of headphones with better sound quality. The speakers have a 20-hour battery life and are designed to store the user’s personalized ear print to create an amazing listening experience regardless of their musical preference.